Resident doctors in Scotland have endorsed a pay proposal from the Scottish government, removing the prospect of strike action.
In an online ballot, 97.1% supported the agreement, with a turnout of 62.4%.
The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed that its members have accepted a pay rise of 4.25% for 2025–26 and 3.75% for 2026–27, mirroring the settlement recently reached with nurses and other NHS staff.
Under the agreement, resident doctors and resident dentists will progress to the next point on their pay scale from 1 December 2025. Those already at the top of their scale, who cannot move further, will receive a one-off consolidated payment of equivalent value to support continued progress on contract reform. The package also includes further investment in contract reform over the same period, bringing the total to £133 million.
Strike action planned by resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, will now be formally cancelled.
Neil Gray, Scotland’s health secretary, said: “I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with resident doctors over pay and contractual reform. I’m grateful to the BMA for the intensive and constructive talks we held to reach this agreement and for confirmation that any threat of industrial action is now fully lifted, avoiding any cancelled operations or disruption to care.”
“With Scotland remaining the only part of the UK to avoid pay-related strike action in the NHS, I am now determined that we will continue to make progress in cutting waiting times and ensuring people get quality care.”
Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s Scottish resident doctors committee, added: “Resident doctors have accepted a deal that is another step forward on our journey towards pay restoration and crucially embeds improvements for doctors for the future. It represents an investment in the future of the NHS workforce and is positive for doctors and for patients, as we seek to recruit and retain the workforce both for today and for years to come.
“The deal negotiated by the Scottish Resident Doctors Committee (SRDC) will move all resident doctors in Scotland up the pay scale and is the equivalent of an average end-of-year pay uplift for 2025-26 of 9.9% and for 2026-27 of 9.4%.”
This article is based on a piece written for Personnel Today
